The Open House & Harvest is being held to celebrate our garden – its first year “in the ground!”   It’s also a chance to acknowledge the vital support of good folks like you

Featured activities include:

- Opening remarks by Rob Taylor, ADM, Municipal Services Division and the group’s Executive Sponsor

- Sampling of produce from the garden in a variety of dishes

- Gardening demos and tips on how to get bountiful plants, even in late season

- Seed planting competition

To RSVP or for more information, please email or call me at 416-895-6269. Please also feel free to distribute this invitation to your contacts.

Hope to see you on September 14th.

Cheers,

Mary Roufail

On Thursday, August 19^th 2010, an eager group of Torontonians young and old from all around the world boarded a school bus and had the wonderful opportunity to observe the work being done at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. The group also had the opportunity to get a taste of the amazing ethnic produce all grown in Ontario.

Following a four year initiative led by Peter Mitchell at the University of Guelph’s Centre for Land and Water Stewardship, The Stop Community Food Centre, the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, and the Greenbelt Foundation have been working on a project to grow foods tailored towards the growing demand for ethnic food in the Greater Toronto Area.

From fuzzy melons and okra, to white eggplants and callaloo, a variety of vegetables that have been traditionally imported can actually be successfully grown in Southern Ontario. When this innovative program is ready to be launched and made public, this creative project may increase employment opportunities in the field of agriculture in Ontario and feed the growing demand for this hard to find produce locally.

Peter Mitchell, one of the organizers of the tour and leader of the initiative brought 100 pounds of Red Melba heirloom apples from his orchard to stave off hunger as the group listened to a presentation by Ahmed Bilal, Lead Researcher of the Vineland Research Innovation Centre.  A delicious lunch made by Fete Kimpiobi of the Solidarite des Femmes Immigrantes Francophones du Niagara was devoured instantly.

Meanwhile, at the Stop Green Barn in Toronto, the participants of the Global Roots Gardening program have positively embraced the collaboration between the two projects. The group of seniors and youths coming from the Philippines, Poland, India, Somalia and other parts of the world have the opportunity to provide feedback to Vineland and contribute to the research.  The Global Roots program, a cross collaboration between The Stop and Culture Link , is a great example of an inter-generational project that successfully integrates diversity, and an environment of inclusion.

Sustain Ontario’s Diversity working group which was formed at the Bring Food Home Conference in March of 2010 identified the need for more inclusivity in the food movement as well as the integration of diverse opinions. To fulfil this mandate, Sustain Ontario’s Food Systems Planner Tammara Soma who is originally from Indonesia will be spending one day a week with the group to support the program and help global roots gardeners maintain their diverse gardens. In addition, Sustain Ontario hopes to identify best practices from the program that may be adopted by other food organizations.

Mayoral Candidate and current Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone officially launched his food platform on August 18^th 2010. As a symbolic gesture, he signed Sustain Ontario’s Food Declaration on top of the Hugh Garner Residential Co-op Rooftop garden – the largest residential rooftop garden in Toronto. Pantalone presented the signed declaration, adapted from Sustain Ontario’s election toolkit (outlining his commitment to make food and farming a central part of his platform) to Darcy Higgins of Food Forward and Lauren Baker of Sustain Ontario.

Pantalone believes that Toronto is on the cusp of change and the importance of building and supporting local food infrastructure can no longer be ignored. In a city like Toronto, where one out of ten households cannot afford healthy meals, he believes that the new mayor of Toronto should “walk the walk and not just talk the talk”. Pantalone’s platform for food prosperity in Toronto includes among other things:

1. Doubling the amount of community gardens in the city;
2. Planting 1000 fruit trees in parks;
3. Support regional agriculture by increasing the number of farmers markets in the city;
4. Increasing city funding of school nutrition programs;
5. Building at least two more community food centres one in the east end and another in the northwest.

Pantalone ensured that the food served at the event came from within 100-miles of the GTA. Also in attendance at the event was Katie Mathieu, a rooftop farmer who grows food for “Parts and Labour” a Toronto restaurant. The event progressed from the Toronto “Eat In” organized by Food Forward which Pantalone attended on July 29^th 2010. His commitment to food and farming in his platform clearly demonstrates a victory for the Food election campaign led by Sustain Ontario, Food Forward and their partners. Sustain Ontario’s municipal food election toolkit, which urges municipal political candidates to consider food, and farming in their election campaign has now been adapted in the province of Manitoba. Who will be the next candidate to include food and farming considerations in their platform?

On Sunday, August 29th, please join us for farm tours, tractor rides, fun farm activities for kids, produce to taste, fresh prepared treats to try, all for FREE.

McVean Farm is a historical agricultural property located in the developing north end of Brampton, Ontario.  The farm is now leased to FarmStart by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).  FarmStart is bringing new life to this farm by providing  local farmers with access to the land, equipment and infrastructure as well as support during the first years of their farm business start-up.

McVean Farm is a refreshing island of diverse, ecological food production surrounded by suburban development.  This year, 19 new farmers are digging in with 11 different farm enterprises on-site.  These farmers, from all over the world, are growing a huge diversity of crops, from honey to mushrooms to a hundred kinds of vegetables.  Their produce is beautiful, fresh picked and often sold directly to their consumers through farmers markets, restaurants and on-farm U-picks.  You can purchase their freshly harvested produce on the farm, at our Saturday Farm Markets.  To enjoy the McVean produce prepared by local chefs, join us for our annual harvest celebration in September.

http://www.farmstart.ca/mcveanfarm/

Sustain Ontario is very fortunate to be working with five amazing interns through the Canada Summer Jobs Program.

The five students Dulaa Osman, Nafissa Pinas, Vincentia Amoako, Nathan Griffith and Alex Shave have been busy working on various food security projects at two different sites.

In the morning, the students travel to the University of Toronto and start their day maintaining the green roof garden on top of Trinity College producing various crops from lettuce, kale, to tomatoes.  They also hone their culinary skills with the famous Hot Yam (a student-run vegan and sustainable kitchen at the University of Toronto) cooking healthy seasonal foods to be served at an affordable price to students.

As Vincentia aptly stated, “it’s not just about the importance of food, the internship experience has been great in terms of friendships.” The program has provided support and camaraderie amongst a group of youths who are passionate about food and making a positive difference in the community.

In the afternoon, the interns travel North to the Lawrence Height’s Community Centre where they spend the rest of the day either working on a rain barrel project for the organic garden located at the back of the centre, organizing food workshops for youth, or cooking a communal meal using ingredients that they themselves have grown. When I asked Dulaa about some of the interesting things he has learned from doing this internship, he smiled and told me about the trick he learned of spraying skim milk on plants as an alternative method of killing pests. Anyone can see the passion in his eyes and hear the enthusiasm in his voice. Dulaa continues on to tell me about the important contribution that youth bring to the table in creating a more sustainable food system.

Nafeesa is enjoying her newfound interest in gardening and is quickly becoming an expert. Vincentia who has a significant amount of food growing experience mentioned that being involved in food work means that she is more reflective about what she eats and how she can cook using more seasonal ingredients. I was curious and asked her about the bottle she was holding, which was filled with ice water, mint and lemon and she proudly said, “I made it and the mint is from the garden”

This Canada Summer Jobs opportunity, a joint partnership between Sustain Ontario, Hart House at the University of Toronto and Lawrence Height Community Centre provides a great opportunity for youth to hone their skills and gain valuable work experience. In our case, Sustain Ontario is very lucky to have a group of devoted and passionate interns who are committed to their community and a more sustainable food system.

This event is a food and health celebration where 11 youth from St. James Town will share food and health stories gathered through gardening, photography, video and blogging.

The event will showcase photographs, videos, and a website that the youth have created to share information and resources on food and health in St. James Town.  For more information please see attached flyer.  Our youth have also created a video invite that can be viewed below.

Harvest the Possibilities!

Sustainable Local Food Certificate
@ St. Lawrence College
Fall Semester, 2010

Are you interested in learning about local, sustainable food?
Understanding the global food system?
Conducting community research in your region?
Brainstorming strategies for change with students from across the country?

You can do it all, from the comfort of your own home. Check out our exciting online course selection:

• CSSL 26 Field to Fork: Introduction to Local and Global Food Systems
• CSSL 28 Food Security and Food Justice ** New
• CSSL 29 Understanding Sustainable Agriculture
• CSSL 30 Urban Agriculture, Community Gardens and Food Secure Cities
• CSSL 31 Between Farm and Table: Local Food Businesses and Co-operatives
• CSSL 33 Food System Policy and Trends

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Visit the website: http://www.sl.on.ca/parttime/OnlineCredit-SustFood.htm

Or contact SLF Certificate coordinator: melissa.benner@gmail.com

**CSSL 26, 29, 31 and 33 are eligible for cost-share funding through the Growing Forward Business Development for Farm Businesses program in Ontario. For more information on program requirements, please call 1-877-424-1300, or visit: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/growingforward/busdev.htm



FreshFest – A Local Taste Experience

Following on its sold out inaugural year, FreshFest returns to St. Thomas, on the evening of Thursday August 26. Wineries, a brewery, and talented area chefs partner with local producers to present tantalizing food and wine/beer samplers, in the impressive historic CASO Railway Station (750 Talbot Street). Mix in the summer sounds of Caren Campbell and The Dozens, the launch of the Savour Elgin Culinary Trail, a live auction of great prizes in support of the CASO restoration, and you have a recipe for the best party of the season.

For complete event details click here.

Celebrating our Heritage, Agriculture & Regional Cuisine

Our Vision:

…to make the Savour Simcoe Event the most talked about, premier event, showcasing the best of Simcoe County’s culinary offerings, with a view to promoting a regional culinary experience.

Our Program:

• Food tasting stations featuring Simcoe County chefs/food service & farmers/producers
• Ontario Wine, beer and Cider tasting
• Seminar/cooking demo area(s)
• Entertainment

A culinary event showcasing the quality food and those who grow and produce it in Simcoe County prepared by the finest chefs in the County!!

For more details and to purchase tickets click here.